Enamel pin badges: the UK buying guide

Enamel pins went from band merch to mainstream gift in about a decade, and the range now runs from beautifully made keepsakes to things that shed their colour after a fortnight. The difference isn't obvious in a photo.

This guide covers what an enamel pin actually is, the difference between hard and soft enamel, what sizes and backs to pick, what a fair UK price looks like and the small tells that separate a good pin from a bad one.

Everything we make is drawn in house and posted from the UK, first class, in the same envelope as a card if you want one.

How an enamel pin is made

• The design is die-struck into a metal blank, creating raised outlines and recessed wells.
• The metal is plated — gold, silver, black nickel or copper tone — which sets the outline colour.
• Coloured enamel is filled into each well by hand and then cured.
• A pin post is soldered to the back and finished with a butterfly clutch or rubber back.
• Because the colour sits inside metal, it doesn't scuff off the way a printed badge does.

Hard enamel vs soft enamel

• Hard enamel is overfilled then polished flat, so the face is smooth and slightly glassy.
• Soft enamel is filled just below the outlines, so you can feel the raised metal edges with a fingertip.
• Hard enamel looks more like jewellery; soft enamel shows finer detail and texture.
• Both last for years — this is a style choice, not a quality ranking.
• Soft enamel usually costs a little less, which matters if you're buying several.

Sizes, backs and fastenings

• 25mm reads well on a lanyard or lapel; 35–45mm is better for detailed artwork or a jacket back.
• Butterfly clutches are standard, cheap and fine for everyday wear.
• Rubber backs grip harder and are kinder to knitwear, but perish eventually.
• Locking backs cost pennies and are the sensible choice for rucksacks and festival jackets.
• Two posts instead of one stops a wide pin rotating — worth checking on larger designs.

How to spot a badly made pin

• Enamel that spills over the metal outlines, or wells that are visibly underfilled.
• Plating that looks patchy or grey rather than an even finish.
• A pin post soldered off-centre, which makes the badge hang crooked.
• No size listed anywhere on the product page.
• Weeks-long delivery from overseas with no UK returns address.

What to pay in the UK

• A single small pin from an independent UK maker generally lands around the price of a greeting card.
• Larger or multi-colour designs cost a bit more because of the extra enamel fills.
• A pin plus a card together still comes in under most single gifts, and posts as one delivery.
• Anything priced far below the rest usually saves money on plating or enamel depth.
• Buying several for a team? Ask about a mixed order rather than paying per-item postage each time.

Shop all enamel pin badges

Animal enamel pins

Cats, frogs and one very charming pigeon.

Cards to send with a pin

Pin and card in one order, one delivery.

How to write it so it lands

• Check the listed size before you buy — a 25mm pin looks very different to a 45mm one in a photo.
• Order a locking back with any pin destined for a rucksack.
• Buying for a group? One enamel pin for the person leaving, button badges for everyone else.

Where to shop next

• Enamel pin badges
• Shop enamel pin badges
• Pin badges hub
• Shop all pin badges
• Funny pin badges
• Animal pin badges
• Pride pin badges
• Work & occupation badges
• Enamel pins vs button badges
• How to display enamel pins
• Pin badge gift ideas
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

What is an enamel pin badge?

A die-struck metal badge with coloured enamel filled into the recessed parts of the design and a pin fastening on the back. The colour is set into metal rather than printed on top, which is why enamel pins outlast printed button badges.

Is hard or soft enamel better?

Neither is better made. Hard enamel is polished flat for a smooth, jewellery-like face; soft enamel leaves raised metal outlines you can feel and shows finer detail. Pick on looks and budget.

What size should an enamel pin be?

25mm suits a lanyard or lapel and reads clearly at conversation distance. Go to 35–45mm if the artwork has fine detail or it's going on a jacket or bag where there's space.

How much should an enamel pin cost in the UK?

From an independent UK maker, a small single pin usually costs roughly what a greeting card does, with larger or more colourful designs a little more. Very cheap pins normally cut corners on plating or enamel depth.

Are enamel pins a good gift?

They're ideal when you want the card to arrive with something in it — birthdays, leaving dos, retirements and thank yous — without the cost, bulk or wrapping of a full present.

Do enamel pins damage clothes?

Not if you pin through a seam or a heavier layer. On fine knitwear, put the pin on a bag, lanyard or coat lapel instead, and use a rubber or locking back on anything that gets knocked about.

Can I post an enamel pin with a card?

Yes. Pins are flat and light enough to travel in the same envelope as a greeting card, so a pin and card ship together as one order with one delivery charge.